Class of ’86 – Chevrolet Camaro Z28 and IROC-Z

Apologies for returning to the bowtie brand so soon after the Cavalier Z24, but we can’t highlight that Chevrolet model in the Class of 1986 without making mention of its big brothers, the Camaro Z28 and Camaro IROC-Z. Though still derided by some in the collector car world, the third-generation Camaros have an active and vocal enthusiast base, as we recently saw when we highlighted one for a Hemmings Find of the Day.

Having learned its lesson after dropping and quickly reinstating the Z28 in the mid-1970s, Chevrolet wasn’t about to face such an uproar again so soon, so it kept the Z28 on as the Camaro’s high-performance leader through the low-performance late 1970s and early 1980s and into the third generation of GM’s F-body platform. The 1985 model year proved to be a big one for Camaro enthusiasts, with the introduction of both the IROC-Z – with its ground effects, 16-inch wheels, Delco Bilstein shocks, front and rear anti-roll bars, fog lamps, and hood louvers – and the Tuned Port Injection 5.0L V-8, good for 215hp, or about 25 more than the carbureted 5.0L H.O. V-8. For 1986, not much changed on the Z28 or IROC-Z as much of their equipment and styling cues filtered down to the Camaro Sport Coupe, though they both received 145MPH speedometers late in the model year to replace the much-despised 85MPH units. The TPI 5.0L V-8, due to a camshaft change, actually lost 25hp, but gained 10 pound-feet of torque. As in 1985, manual transmissions were available behind all carbureted engines; the TPI engine could only be paired with the four-speed automatic transmission. Both the Z28 and IROC-Z sold well in 1986: 88,132 and 49,585 respectively, combined outselling the base Camaro by a wide margin.

This week’s selection for the Class of 1986 may be a no-brainer, but we’d still like to hear your input on the 1986 Camaro Z28 and Camaro IROC-Z. Would you put one in your garage dedicated to 1986 vehicles? Or would you pass on one even if it were dropped in your lap?

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marc stephenssays:

May 13, 2011 8:59 am

Its funny my brother and I were just talking about how Iroc’s are going to be collectibles soon. There was a clean Iroc sitting at a shop near my house and we got to talking about them. You dont see many clean ones anymore but when you do they really standout.

salguodsays:

May 13, 2011 12:23 pm

The IROCs and Z28s are easy. Any special performance F-body is going to be collectible. The real question is if the standard coupes and more interestingly the Berlinetta will gain any traction among collectors.

For now, I think not, but as prices of the more desirable climb, those with an itching for an F-body may find the cheaper, plainer Camaros an affordable way to get their fix.

Craig Hoversays:

May 13, 2011 10:21 pm

My dad worked for Chevy and drove a lot of Caprices for company cars. Once in awhile he’d order a Camaro, and I’ll never forget the mid-80s Z28’s and IROCs. I can’t tell you how cool I thought they were back when I was an 11-12 year-old kid. God I loved them. And when my dad took me to school, the other kids went nuts over them. I know they have that mullet stigma for some people, but not for me. When I see a nice one, I still think of them the same way I did back then. They’ll always be cool to me!

Bryan Gsays:

May 13, 2011 11:03 pm

I’m seeing some attention paid to all of the 80s F-bodies right now. The 6-cylinder cars are a great first step for a young Chevy fan.

There was a lot of talk about the IROC when I was in high school; they were seen as one of the most desirable new cars. Story: my youngest sister was hanging out with this guy who was a habitual lier. He kept bragging about buying a brand new IROC. Thing was, this was a little later, about a year after Dodge had taken over with the Daytona. I have long regretted the fact that I didn’t make a fool of him by tripping him up over that fact.

January 22, 2013 12:06 am

Ktsays:

January 27, 2013 8:18 pm

This car will definitely be a collectors item. If you can find one with t-tops do much the better. I found a faded red 1985 Iroc z28. Rebuilt the motor and transmission and suspension ,Put the factory wheels in the garage and put on a set of 20 inch chrome Iroc wheels. This car turns heads just standing still…. People have flagged me down and asked me all kinds of questions such as “what year is it?”,, “is it for sale?” ” how many years were they produced? ” I’ve even had guys in brand new vettes do double takes and head turns…these cars will definitely be collectors items due to their limited production run. If you have one or get one hang on to it ..

Austinsays:

August 7, 2014 2:24 pm

Chrome Ghostsays:

October 7, 2013 2:42 pm

I traded my 88 mazda b2200 for a 86 iroc z28. Got rid the whimpy 305 dropped a 327 mated with a th35 tranny. T top and still needs interior tlc. But i turn heads everywhere i go. A will run down any other irocs or plain z28 around.

Chucksays:

January 16, 2014 9:12 pm

bradsays:

January 8, 2014 2:21 pm

i got the 86 z28 t top. got red of the 350 puttin in a 307 from my 69 camaro the 30 kept over heating so im gonna put in the 307 🙂 its got a 6 speed manual transmission its a sweet ride gonna paint it blue with white strips a dark blue maybe aqua blu mettalic

bradsays:

January 8, 2014 2:22 pm

dansays:

May 23, 2014 11:34 am

need to know what year corvette heads will fit my 86′ tpi iroc?
only made 305’s in 86′, only got 14k miles so everything else is good to go,except the 25hp downgrade in cam output.the car is mint.got,got it from a Mercedes dealer in Syr., N.Y.,It’s hard to think about tearing apart a perfectly running motor(at least my wife thinks so)but my brother in-law is dogging me with his newer model GT Mustang.So keep the TPI stock runners ,HEADS&CAM plus HEADERS /w a performance chip ! so what year heads can I squeeze in my iroc.

Austinsays:

August 7, 2014 2:21 pm

For my 86 I was thinking about getting a 350 small block. I didn’t wanna get a 305 because if you wanna have fun with your car that would be like a daily engine. But do you think a 350 small block would be a good suggestion?

Magansays:

November 10, 2014 2:40 pm

Karensays:

May 2, 2015 9:26 am

I have a 1986 z28 camaro. My dad gave her to me when I turned 16. She is my first car. I am now 26 an I’m still driving the Mar. Mar is what we named the camaro. I have been and still driving her for ten years now. I also live in alaska an have been driving her for the past ten winters if u been to alaska then you should no driving a camaro in the winter in alaska is freaking nuts an very dangerous an no one I no still drives there first car let alone a camaro for ten freaking winters. She is not just a car to me,she is family my best friend. She an I have been to hell an back together. She has everything original still the motor has three hundred thousands miles on it it’s rolled over twice with me an once when my dad owned it. My dad owned it for ten years be for he gave her to me. He always tells me if I would have none the Mar was gonna last so long I would of keep it. Everyone I no I shocked that I’m still driving her after ten years not many people can say they have been driving there first car they ever owned for ten years and that they got it wen they turned 16. I can remember being a little girl riding wit my dad telling him that I want a camaro when I grow up. The camaro has alway been my favorite car in the world an I plan on have my camaro and driving her tell the day I can’t drive cuz I’m so old an crazy but by the I hope I’ll have kids to give her to.

Graemesays:

August 3, 2015 12:09 pm

A handful of these fine motorcars found their way to South Africa, most remain in cherished collections as many of the owners are high net worth individuals or passionate collectors.
Most of them are fully loaded with the 5.7 litre engine.
For those fortunate enough a premium of around 125% of what they cost in the States had to be paid if the government approved the import permit, as a result there are probably less than 100 of these all told.
Now that I have amassed enough capital I am looking out for one perhaps two of these, I am only after those with an exacting provenance and low, low mileage.

Jim Haarsays:

March 14, 2016 12:18 pm

I bought a 1985 IROC brand new in 1985 when living in San Pedro, Ca. The car was built in Van Nuys, Ca. and was
sold as a “California IROC ” by Champion Chevrolet in Manhattan Beach,Ca. It was a “stealth” version of the regular IROC as it had no graphics on it and no faux hood scoops or rear spoiler , but all the “ground effects” parts.
The “stealth version” only came in red and black and only 500 of each color were built.
I never saw another except for a red one at one time. My oldest son drove the car from 1997 until 2002 and
my youngest drove it from 2002 until 2004 and then it was sold.
The car always got a lot of attention as they were rare and no one had seen one before. An internet search
reveals nothing about the car as a Chevrolet product and I can find no mention of its existence.
I would appreciate any info on the car from others who may be or have been aware of it.